Should I Call My Vet Regarding My Guinea Pig Coughing?

[Laaaauren]

Hello everyone,
I’m a little bit concerned about my boar, Casper. We own two guinea pigs and sometimes hear coughing coming from the hutch, but whenever I go over to see which one it was, they stop/hide. Because it only started happening when I adopted my sow, Cookie, I was under the impression it was her who was coughing. We had her checked out by our vet and they didn’t notice anything strange; her mouth/throat was clear, her breathing was normal and she didn’t have any discharge coming from her nose, eyes or mouth.

However, last night I heard coughing/spluttering so I ran over and saw it was my boar who was coughing. I took him out and checked his mouth but couldn’t see anything obstructing his airways. He did cough a couple of times again so now I’m unsure of which piggy it is who’s coughing quite frequently. It may be that they’re both snacking a bit too quickly (they’re young so that’s expected) and are having to cough since piggies don’t have the ability to vomit.

Our vet has checked Cookie since we were under the impression that it was her who was coughing but should I call my vet up and ask about Casper? Given the Covid-19 situation our vets are not allowing owners to enter the premises but are offering a phone consultation, with a possible vet visit if needed.
Both piggies are eating fine, are active and have clear eyes/noses with no discharge so I don’t think it’s a URI, but is it best for me to at least call our vet for a second opinion?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone,
I’m a little bit concerned about my boar, Casper. We own two guinea pigs and sometimes hear coughing coming from the hutch, but whenever I go over to see which one it was, they stop/hide. Because it only started happening when I adopted my sow, Cookie, I was under the impression it was her who was coughing. We had her checked out by our vet and they didn’t notice anything strange; her mouth/throat was clear, her breathing was normal and she didn’t have any discharge coming from her nose, eyes or mouth.

However, last night I heard coughing/spluttering so I ran over and saw it was my boar who was coughing. I took him out and checked his mouth but couldn’t see anything obstructing his airways. He did cough a couple of times again so now I’m unsure of which piggy it is who’s coughing quite frequently. It may be that they’re both snacking a bit too quickly (they’re young so that’s expected) and are having to cough since piggies don’t have the ability to vomit.

Our vet has checked Cookie since we were under the impression that it was her who was coughing but should I call my vet up and ask about Casper? Given the Covid-19 situation our vets are not allowing owners to enter the premises but are offering a phone consultation, with a possible vet visit if needed.
Both piggies are eating fine, are active and have clear eyes/noses with no discharge so I don’t think it’s a URI, but is it best for me to at least call our vet for a second opinion?

Hi!

Can you please check whether the on and off coughing happens during or immediately after eating? In this case you just have a greedy eater.

 

[Rivervixen]

Hi!

Can you please check whether the on and off coughing happens during or immediately after eating? In this case you just have a greedy eater.

Mine both start honking after they’ve hoovered up a load of food, greedy piggies

 

[VickiA]

There are 2 piggies in my piggy room who cough when stuffing their faces too fast. However, as a family we are all on high alert for any sounds of a cough so whenever anypig coughs there's a collective shout out and we go to check.
But it's always best to check that it is happening while eating, as if it is happening at any other time, then that would be a cause for concern.

 

[Laaaauren]

Hi!

Can you please check whether the on and off coughing happens during or immediately after eating? In this case you just have a greedy eater.

I try to get over to them as quickly as I can to see if it might be while they’re eating but they usually stop and/or hide so it’s a bit difficult.

I do think (and hope) that it’s just down to them being greedy little piggies and not something else!

 

[Wiebke]

I try to get over to them as quickly as I can to see if it might be while they’re eating but they usually stop and/or hide so it’s a bit difficult.

I do think (and hope) that it’s just down to them being greedy little piggies and not something else!

Just feed them last and then lurk in the vicinity, preferably at a distance they cannot see you well and stand still (piggies react to movement); they will forget your presence. All you want is to hear them coughing.

Illness coughing is actually not all that common; it is more continuous and not off and on like the common greedy eater syndrome.

 

[Laaaauren]

Just feed them last and then lurk in the vicinity, preferably at a distance they cannot see you well and stand still (piggies react to movement); they will forget your presence. All you want is to hear them coughing.

Illness coughing is actually not all that common; it is more continuous and not off and on like the common greedy eater syndrome.

That’s great advice, I’ll give it a go - thank you very much!